Description
Romance. Humor (Fiction.) Young Adult Fiction. HTML: Perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Rainbow Rowell, The Romantics will charm readers of all ages. Gael Brennan is about to have his heart broken when his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents' painful separation. Love intervenes with the intention of setting things right�??but she doesn't anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love's plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael's hot-sauce-wielding "dream girl." The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules�??and in order to set Gael's fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care… (more)
Genres
Collection
Publication
Random House (2000), Edition: 1st, 272 pages
User reviews
LibraryThing member wandering_star
This is a book about a young Indian, Samar, who moves to Benares after a life spent in small towns. Quite naive and inexperienced, in Benares he meets people - Indian and Western - whose backgrounds and experiences are alien to him. He is drifting through life, with no clear drive or direction,
The book touches on several themes. One is about detachment - from life, emotions, friends, family - and its opposite, human connections (and love). Do human connections just lock us into a world of illusion, which we are unable to give up? or is detachment simply a sterile refusal to engage with the world and with other people?
Another is about choice. Samar is astounded by the way that the Europeans and Americans talk about their lives - the choices that they feel open to them - choosing to live in another country, choosing to convert to another religion, choosing what their life will be to fit their self-image. Ultimately the book concludes that the Westerners are privileged, more than anything else, because they have these choices - and their impact on the people they meet in India is compounded by their inability to understand that other people don't have these choices.
Another, minor, theme is about misunderstandings, particularly between cultures: the tendency to exoticise other cultures, and the way it feels to be the subject of this, is brilliantly highlighted in a conversation between an American and a European, where the American enthuses about the lack of inhibitions in European fiction and films - and the Frenchwoman responds rather tetchily that she's missing the point. At the same time, Mishra suggests that human nature is not all that different - comparing the lives of young men moving to the big city of Benares to the characters in Flaubert's Sentimental Education - "the small, unnoticed tragedies of thwarted hopes and ideals". (I appreciated the way that the foreigners were portrayed. The book highlights the ironies of their life in India, but does so - unusually for the subject - without any sneering. The contradictions are inherent in their situation rather than arising from any lack of good will on their part.)
There were a lot of things I really liked about this book. Firstly, the descriptions of India are simple, but very evocative - whether Mishra is talking about the cities, the countryside or the mountains. Try this description of a rickshaw ride in the rain: "The rain flowed down the windscreen, which the driver kept wiping with a rag that lay on the dashboard. Gleamingly vivid for one moment, the streets dissolved into smudgy fluorescent colours the next. Passing scooters and autorickshaws kept spraying thick jets of muddy water from the waterlogged road into the back seat". The descriptions, and Samar's drifting, introspective nature, make this a book that you need to read slowly and savour. I did have one problem with it, though, which is that there were a lot of incidents which seemed as if they ought to be significant, and yet I couldn't figure out what that significance was. Take the title, for example - which of the characters are the romantics?
Still, I would certainly like to read the book again, and maybe next time I will have more answers.
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often dislocated from his surroundings - and his encounters with these new people exacerbate these tendencies in him.The book touches on several themes. One is about detachment - from life, emotions, friends, family - and its opposite, human connections (and love). Do human connections just lock us into a world of illusion, which we are unable to give up? or is detachment simply a sterile refusal to engage with the world and with other people?
Another is about choice. Samar is astounded by the way that the Europeans and Americans talk about their lives - the choices that they feel open to them - choosing to live in another country, choosing to convert to another religion, choosing what their life will be to fit their self-image. Ultimately the book concludes that the Westerners are privileged, more than anything else, because they have these choices - and their impact on the people they meet in India is compounded by their inability to understand that other people don't have these choices.
Another, minor, theme is about misunderstandings, particularly between cultures: the tendency to exoticise other cultures, and the way it feels to be the subject of this, is brilliantly highlighted in a conversation between an American and a European, where the American enthuses about the lack of inhibitions in European fiction and films - and the Frenchwoman responds rather tetchily that she's missing the point. At the same time, Mishra suggests that human nature is not all that different - comparing the lives of young men moving to the big city of Benares to the characters in Flaubert's Sentimental Education - "the small, unnoticed tragedies of thwarted hopes and ideals". (I appreciated the way that the foreigners were portrayed. The book highlights the ironies of their life in India, but does so - unusually for the subject - without any sneering. The contradictions are inherent in their situation rather than arising from any lack of good will on their part.)
There were a lot of things I really liked about this book. Firstly, the descriptions of India are simple, but very evocative - whether Mishra is talking about the cities, the countryside or the mountains. Try this description of a rickshaw ride in the rain: "The rain flowed down the windscreen, which the driver kept wiping with a rag that lay on the dashboard. Gleamingly vivid for one moment, the streets dissolved into smudgy fluorescent colours the next. Passing scooters and autorickshaws kept spraying thick jets of muddy water from the waterlogged road into the back seat". The descriptions, and Samar's drifting, introspective nature, make this a book that you need to read slowly and savour. I did have one problem with it, though, which is that there were a lot of incidents which seemed as if they ought to be significant, and yet I couldn't figure out what that significance was. Take the title, for example - which of the characters are the romantics?
Still, I would certainly like to read the book again, and maybe next time I will have more answers.
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LibraryThing member Gary10
Story of a yong man in a remote town in India who falls in love with a French woman tourist. Good insight into the incredible rift between first and third world--a rift not easily bridged by love.
LibraryThing member amaryann21
Interesting read... very Eastern in feel- contemplative, subtly evocative and wandering in the telling.
LibraryThing member leahlo89
OMG loved it. Probably my favorite contemporary this year!
LibraryThing member librorumamans
Sumptuously written, this bildungsroman set in northern India in the 1990s has echoes of Maugham and Waugh, but is its own book and is well worth the read.
LibraryThing member kirathelibrarian
After his parents got divorced, he though he'd found love again. That is, until his girlfriend cheated on him with his best friend, Now Gael Brennan is starting to give up on love. Love, the all-seeing narrator, decides to try everything she can to inspire Gael to not give up on it. When her
Narrator, Amanda Leigh Cobb is a unique, memorable narrator that easily draws readers into Gael's world. She does a great job of bringing the characters to life with her distinct voices. She easily transitions between the different point of view without missing a beat. Her snarkiness adds a lot of character to the novel and really personalizes Love. The plot is well written, engaging, and does a great job of painting a unique position of love. Fans of romance with supernatural elements will enjoy listening to this book.
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arch-nemesis Rebound happens, however, Love tries everything to push Gael in another direction, toward a girl he's known for year, but didn't know he liked. Can Love prevail? Is Rebound really just that, a rebound?Narrator, Amanda Leigh Cobb is a unique, memorable narrator that easily draws readers into Gael's world. She does a great job of bringing the characters to life with her distinct voices. She easily transitions between the different point of view without missing a beat. Her snarkiness adds a lot of character to the novel and really personalizes Love. The plot is well written, engaging, and does a great job of painting a unique position of love. Fans of romance with supernatural elements will enjoy listening to this book.
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LibraryThing member mikitchenlady
Told by an omniscient narrator, Love, this book shares the story of Gael as he navigates through the ups and downs of romantic and family life. Our story begins with Gael proclaiming his love for Annika, who responds a few days later by kissing Gael's best friend Mason - more than just a kiss,
This romantic comedy was cute, but not really a standout. The narrator did a nice job but didn't have much differentiation between character voices. It was a bit slow paced - I found myself getting distracted at times while listening to it. I'd recommend this to fans of Stephanie Perkins or Meg Cabot.
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they're in a relationship. Gael is heartbroken by their betrayal, but also by his parents' divorce, which appears to have been caused by his father cheating on his mother. Much to Love's dismay, Gael rebounds with Cara, who puts their relationship on hold because she promised herself she'd spend some time not dating after her last breakup - seems Cara is a Serial Monogamist, and is trying to break out of the mold of always needing a boyfriend. Then there's Sammy, Gael's sister's French tutor and babysitter. Gael keeps thinking about her, talking with her, hanging out with her - could there be more there than just friendship? Love certainly hopes so.This romantic comedy was cute, but not really a standout. The narrator did a nice job but didn't have much differentiation between character voices. It was a bit slow paced - I found myself getting distracted at times while listening to it. I'd recommend this to fans of Stephanie Perkins or Meg Cabot.
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LibraryThing member harleyqgrayson02
I have received The Romantics by Leah Konen from Librarything.com early review for a honest review. I received The Romantic in audiobook form. I really love this book!!!! I found it to be funny and enjoyable. I love the characters. I found it cool that love was the one telling the story.
LibraryThing member niquetteb
A cute novel of modern day romance told in the voice of cupid-like "Love." The chapters and tracks on the CD are short and move the book along quickly. The idea of love being handled from an outside source or a possible angelic being is the premise of this story. I became invested in the characters
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about half way through and especially enjoyed the peak on the last disk. My biggest hesitation and why I gave this book 3.5 stars instead of 4 comes from the overuse of the word vehemently. I wish the language used was a bit more rich and varied. As an adult I can appreciate the adorableness of "The Romantics", but I would say teenagers and college students would be the best audience. Show Less
LibraryThing member Irishreader
I won this audio on LibraryThing and thank you! Gael is at a crossroads in his senior year in high school. Confronted with family, girlfriend, friend problems "Love" (the narrator) decides to intervene. This was read by Amanda Leigh Cobb, who did a very good job with all the voices and it was a
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pleasure to listen to her. This optimistic story will appeal to 8th grade and up. Show Less
LibraryThing member ErinAyin
Here is a summary of what the book is about. Perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Rainbow Rowell, The Romantics will charm readers of all ages. Gael Brennan is about to have his heart broken when his first big relationship crumbles on the heels of his parents' painful separation.
Love intervenes
The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules- and in order to set Gael's fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.
I found this book very interesting because it is not narrated by a person. The story is told by a feeling. Yes you heard me right the story is told by Love.
I absolutely loved this book. I felt a little silly because I never knew what Rom- Com stood for until this book. Do you guy's know what it means? I will tell you Rom- Com is short for Romantic Comedy.
I would recommend this book. You guy's will fall in love with it.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Happy Reading Everyone!
Love intervenes
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with the intention of setting things right- but she doesn't anticipate the intrusion of her dreaded nemesis: the Rebound. Love's plans for Gael are sidetracked by Cara, Gael's hot- sauce- wielding " dream girl."The more Love meddles, the further Gael drifts from the one girl who can help him mend his heart. Soon Love starts breaking all her own rules- and in order to set Gael's fate back on course, she has to make some tough decisions about what it means to truly care.
I found this book very interesting because it is not narrated by a person. The story is told by a feeling. Yes you heard me right the story is told by Love.
I absolutely loved this book. I felt a little silly because I never knew what Rom- Com stood for until this book. Do you guy's know what it means? I will tell you Rom- Com is short for Romantic Comedy.
I would recommend this book. You guy's will fall in love with it.
Looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Happy Reading Everyone!
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LibraryThing member karen813
The Romantics by Leah Konen is a very cute depiction of teenage romance. The story is narrated by Love who is trying to make sure the main character, Gael Brennan, finds the right girl to love. Gael is reeling from his parent's divorce and his own recent breakup with a girlfriend when he sets his
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sights on Cara, his dream girl. Love knows better however and spends the bulk of the book steering him towards the girl who's been there all along. While there are no surprises in this book it's still a fun, easy romance that ends happily and definitely made me smile. I listened to this book on audio and I thought the narration was well done and didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book. All in all this is a solid YA romance. I received an audio copy of the this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review through the Early Reviewers program. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
LA Times Book Prize (Finalist — 2000)
Crossword Book Award (Shortlist — 2000)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2000
2010